SEBASTIAN — Robin Graves, Alan Northrop and George Millar, all members of the Sebastian Natural Resources Board, as well as Beth Clifford, Ann Lucier, and Robert Lenz, were part of Capt. Christy Lenz’ volunteer trash team heading across the lagoon aboard The Sea Tow, with Capt. John and Amy Donaldson and their 4-year-old son, Finnegan, early Saturday morning. They were among the several such volunteer teams participating in the Seventh Annual Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup, working from several county water’s-edge locations.
In Sebastian, teams of volunteer trash collectors were transported by boaters, also volunteers, from the City Docks on Indian River Drive at Main Street, to the various spoil islands.
Capt. Christy’s team headed to IR 1, the northernmost Indian River County recreational spoil island, of about 20 such strung along the lagoon in Indian River County.
With sturdy black plastic bags in hand, the volunteers splashed along the shore and through the pine and palm covered islands, padded thick with years of fallen needles, collecting a wide and occasionally disgusting variety of trash.
The boats shuttled volunteers and trash bags back and forth throughout the morning from 8 a.m. until a little after Noon.
It was the first waterway cleanup for Sebastian residents Joy and Elwood Caldwell, who’d previously volunteered at the Sebastian Inlet.
“Capt. Christy told us about this, and we thought we join in,” said Joy Caldwell. “We love the river, and we know it’s important to take care of it.”
“I’ve just moved back to Sebastian, and I wanted to get active in the community,” said Debbie Tribble, searching the island with volunteer Beth Clifford.
“Last year in Indian River County we collected 2.7 tons of trash in 4 1/2 hours,” said Steve Haigis, Indian River County Clean-Up Leader. “This is my sixth year, and the amount of trash seems to be getting less each year. We hope that’s true for this year as well with more public education and awareness.”
After carefully scouring Indian River No. 1 Recreational Spoil Island, the team gathered back on the Sea Tow, to hydrate and share their trash adventures.
Serious about the morning’s task, and well prepared in green framed shades, snazzy black Crocs, life jacket and special gloves, “Finnegan stated solemnly, ‘We got a lot of trash!’”
Items of particular note included grill parts, a broiler pan from a stove, dog bowls, a couple of pairs of shoes, a birdfeeder, a toy T-Rex, and an empty rum bottle.
City employees Billy and Ashley Wilson were going from island to island loading bags of trash into their boat for disposal.
Haigis explained that the types of trash as well as the weight will be carefully recorded.
Capt. Christy, who has participated in many such cleanups, said she finds it amazing that people can use and enjoy the islands and then just pack up and leave their trash behind.
